PORT ANGELES — Mark Nichols leads William Payne in a close race for Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney.
Nichols had 7,896 votes to Payne’s 7,224 votes — a 52.22 percent to 47.78 percent edge — after the county Auditor’s Office processed the first-batch of general election ballots on Tuesday.
“I’m encouraged,” Nichols said of the early returns. “I’m going to await the results from Friday.
“I’m humbled. I’m just honored to have worked with so many great people and met so many citizens from the county over the last five to six months.”
Nichols, 42, of Port Angeles, is the county’s hearing examiner and a former chief deputy in the prosecutor’s office.
Payne, 57, of Sequim, was appointed to lead the office by two of three county commissioners in January. He was formerly an assistant state attorney general.
Both candidates are Republicans.
“I’m not conceding yet,” Payne said. “I’m optimistic. I’m a little disappointed (in the first count), but I think there’s some room there.”
The next count of approximately 11,000 ballots has been scheduled for Friday, Clallam County Auditor Patty Rosand said.
The Auditor’s Office counted 18,242 ballots Tuesday out of 46,908 issued for a voter turnout of 38.9 percent, Rosand said.
The office received Tuesday 3,952 ballots in the mail and in drop boxes. Those were not counted, but brought voter turnout to 47.13 percent.
Rosand expects 7,000 more ballots to come in by Wednesday.
The prosecutor-coroner, who oversees a $2 million budget and 18 full-time equivalent employees, will earn $129,579 next year.
Payne thanked his family and other supporters.
“Without their encouragement, it wouldn’t have been possible to get this far,” Payne said.
Nichols planned to spend two days fishing on the West End with family and friends after a long campaign.
Asked if he had a message for his supporters, Nichols said: “Thank you.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
